# Artisan Entertainment

Artisan Entertainment (formerly known as U.S.A. Home Video, International Video Entertainment (IVE) and LIVE Entertainment) was an American film studio and home video company. It was considered one of the largest mini-major film studios until it was merged by later mini-major film studio Lions Gate Entertainment in 2003. At the time of its acquisition, Artisan had a library of thousands of films developed through acquisition, original production, and production and distribution agreements. Its headquarters and private screening room were located in Santa Monica, California. It also had an office in Tribeca in Manhattan, New York.
The company owned the home video rights to the film libraries of Republic Pictures, ITC Entertainment, Gladden Entertainment, Miramax Films, Hemdale Film Corporation, The Shooting Gallery, and Carolco Pictures before it went defunct.
Artisan's releases included Requiem for a Dream, Pi, Killing Zoe, The Blair Witch Project, Grizzly Falls, Startup.com, Novocaine, and National Lampoon's Van Wilder.

## History

Artisan, unlike most movie studios, had its roots in the home video industry.

### 1980s

Artisan Entertainment was founded in 1980 by Noel C. Bloom as Family Home Entertainment, Inc., and it was initially operated as a subsidiary of adult film distributor Caballero Control Corporation. It received a distribution pact with Wizard Video. In 1982, the latter had sold The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 10,000 copies a week. Also that year, the label started distributing titles by Monterey Home Video. Later on, it received a distribution deal with MGM/UA Home Video to distribute the library. In 1983, it received a new agreement with Filmation in order to distribute the library on videocassette.
In 1983, FHE began operating its new subsidiary U.S.A. Home Video, when tapes were usually packaged in large boxes and included non-family films such as Supergirl, Silent Night, Deadly Night, several Lorimar titles and many B-movies, including those that begin and end with B-actress Sybil Danning talking about the film that is being shown under the Adventure Video label. U.S.A. also released sports videos under the U.S.A. Sports Video label.
In 1984, FHE and U.S.A. became part of Noel Bloom's NCB Entertainment Group (which also included Bloom's other labels Caballero Home Video, Monterey Home Video and Thriller Video), and then later on that year, both were consolidated into International Video Entertainment, Inc., formed under NCB and also taking ownership of Monterey and Thriller Video. The IVE name was used for non-family releases (although the U.S.A. name continued until 1987) and the FHE name was used for family releases. Also that year, Bloom launched Concept Productions to develop live programming. In the late 1980s, the company also branched out into film distribution for television.
In 1987, IVE was acquired by Carolco Pictures from NCB Entertainment after Carolco had taken a minority interest in the latter a year earlier. That year, it secured a deal with MCA Distributing Corporation to handle distribution of its titles. The unrated release of Angel Heart was the first Carolco film released by IVE on video. The studio hired José Menendez, previously of RCA, as head of IVE; he was responsible for creating product deals with Sylvester Stallone's White Eagle Enterprises and producer Edward Pressman. In 1989, Menendez and his wife were murdered by their two sons. Also in 1987, Noel C. Bloom left IVE, following disputes with Carolco, to start out Celebrity Home Entertainment, with some of IVE's employees defecting to Celebrity. Later that year, the company had acquired the assets of home video distributor Vista Home Video from The Vista Organization for $38 million.
In 1988, IVE and FHE consolidated into LIVE Entertainment after a merger with wholesale media distributor Lieberman Enterprises. LIVE formed new ventures outside the home video business, including ownership of retail music and video chains across the East Coast, after the acquisitions of such stores as Strawberries and Waxie Maxie, and its Lieberman subsidiary acquired Navarre Corporation. Also that year, it partnered with distributor Radio Vision International to launch a music-oriented label, Radio Vision Video.

### 1990–1997

In 1990, IVE became LIVE Home Video. Carolco formed its own home video division under a partnership with LIVE. The company also formed Avid Home Entertainment, which reissued older LIVE product, as well as ITC Entertainment's back catalogue, on videocassette at discount prices (held to a $15 price point); this division was based out of Denver, CO and had their own sales force, to better distinguish themselves from their parent company. Also in 1990, LIVE acquired German video distributor VCL.
LIVE Entertainment also branched out into film production. The company spent more than a million dollars to finance the 1992 film Reservoir Dogs, which marked the directorial debut of Quentin Tarantino. Other films included Paul Schrader's Light Sleeper.
On January 11, 1991, Live announced that it would acquire Vestron, Inc. for $24 million after its downfall; Vestron had been known best for Dirty Dancing, which had been the second highest-grossing independent film of all time. Vestron releases continued into 1992.
Much of LIVE's earnings were partially thanks to Carolco's investment in the company, but by 1991, the studio was in such debt that a plan to merge the two companies was called off that December; around this time, the Lieberman assets were sold to another video distributor, Handleman, in an effort to stem LIVE's financial bleeding. In May 1992, its distribution agreement with Uni Distribution Corporation expired, and LIVE signed a deal with Warner-Elektra-Atlantic. The following month, LIVE defaulted on their debt payments; Carolco reduced their stake in LIVE concurrently (from a majority share of 53% to 49.9%), selling minority shares in LIVE to a group of investors led by Pioneer Electronic Corporation.
In February 1993, LIVE, despite their best efforts, was forced to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy from insufficient cash flow; as a part of this deal, Pioneer acquired 30% of LIVE's voting stock (Carolco was also restructuring and their stake in LIVE was further reduced to 35%). In August 1994, Carolco and LIVE plotted another merger attempt, but the plans fell apart once again that October. Under new CEO Roger Burlage, the unprofitable retail assets were sold and more focus was placed upon film production (Burlage took inspiration for this new business plan from his previous employer, Trimark Pictures). In 1996, when Carolco ceased to exist as a company, StudioCanal got full rights to their film library; LIVE, under a new deal with the French-based production company, continued to distribute Carolco's films for video. LIVE also took control of its video sales at this time from WEA; WEA continued to handle distribution of its products.

### 1997–2003

In July 1997, LIVE was acquired by Bain Capital and was taken private. Though Burlage was retained as chairman initially, a new trio of executives took power: former International Creative Management agent Bill Block and former October Films partner Amir Malin became co-presidents, while former Bain Capital financial consultant Mark Curcio handled financial matters. Their goal was to utilize the large video library and the consistent profit from that area to invest in independent film production, which they saw as a market in flux in the wake of several notable independent film companies, including Orion Pictures, Miramax Films and others being subsumed into larger corporate organizations; going along with this, LIVE's existing film production unit was shuttered. As part of the restructuring process, in April 1998, LIVE was rebranded as Artisan Entertainment; the rebranding was in part motivated by LIVE's reputation for mediocre product and lingering memories of their connection to the Menendez brothers case. The company headquarters was moved from Van Nuys, CA to oceanfront offices in Santa Monica, while the company's New York branch office relocated to the TriBeCa neighborhood.
On December 18, 1997, LIVE entered into a domestic home video deal with Hallmark Entertainment to handle the distribution of products from its Hallmark Home Entertainment subsidiary, including Crayola-branded releases and Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. These releases would be distributed under Family Home Entertainment, while Hallmark Home Entertainment would retain marketing rights. By 1998, products from Cabin Fever Entertainment were added to the deal after Hallmark purchased and folded the company in March of that year.
In August 1998, the distribution deal with WEA expired and was replaced by a new distribution deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
In addition to adding more theatrical releases, the company's home video subsidiary, Artisan Home Entertainment, continued to expand with more home video deals. The company began releasing products from TSG Pictures around this time, and by September 1998, Artisan signed a deal with Spelling Entertainment Group to distribute films from its Republic Pictures unit for home video release throughout a five-ten year period. This was followed in October 1999 with a four-year home video deal with Discovery Communications to release programming from the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and TLC networks through dedicated labels under Family Home Entertainment.
On February 10, 2000, Artisan acquired a minority stake in The Baby Einstein Company in exchange for a three-year North American home video distribution agreement for the Baby Einstein catalog. The deal was eventually revoked early at the end of 2001 following The Walt Disney Company's purchase of The Baby Einstein Company.
In May 2000, Marvel Studios negotiated a deal with Artisan Entertainment for a co-production joint venture that included rights to 15 Marvel characters including Captain America, Thor, the Black Panther, Iron Fist, and Deadpool. Artisan would finance and distribute while Marvel would developing licensing and merchandising tie-ins. The resulting production library, which would also include TV series, direct-to-video films and internet projects, would be co-owned.
On September 13, 2000, Artisan launched Artisan Digital Media and iArtisan. The last major deal Artisan undertook that year was their renewal of a distribution pact with Canadian media firm Alliance Atlantis, which included distribution rights to Artisan product in Canada, and theatrical distribution of Artisan films in Britain via AAC's Momentum Pictures unit.
In 2001, the company acquired Canadian film and TV company Landscape Entertainment.
In May 2003, Artisan and Microsoft jointly announced the first release of a high definition DVD, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Extreme Edition). The release was a promotion for the Windows Media version 9 format; it could only be played on a personal computer with Windows XP. Artisan had released the movie in 2002 on D-VHS.
In the summer of 2003, Marvel Enterprises placed an offer for Artisan, with then-Disney-owned and Weinstein-operated Miramax Films to provide backing for Marvel's bid. On December 15, 2003, Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation would merge Artisan for $220 million and video releases through Artisan have now been re-released under the Lionsgate Home Entertainment banner.

## Filmography
### As LIVE Entertainment

| Release date | Title | Notes |
| September 4, 1992 | Bob Roberts | co-production with Paramount Pictures, Miramax Films, StudioCanal and Working Title Films |
| October 23, 1992 | Reservoir Dogs | co-production with Miramax Films |
| November 20, 1992 | Bad Lieutenant | distributed by Aries Films; video distributor |
| July 30, 1993 | Tom and Jerry: The Movie | U.S. co-distributor with Miramax Films and Turner Entertainment; co-production with Film Roman |
| September 17, 1993 | Frauds | co-production with J&M Entertainment and Latent Image Productions |
| February 4, 1994 | Gunmen | U.S. co-distributor with Dimension Films; co-production with Davis Entertainment |
| July 8, 1994 | Pentathlon | |
| January 19, 1995 | Mutant Species | co-production with Southern Star Studios |
| April 28, 1995 | Top Dog | |
| June 2, 1995 | Out-of-Sync | co-production with United Image Entertainment |
| September 9, 1995 | Blood and Donuts | co-production with Daban Films and The Feature Film Project |
| April 19, 1996 | The Substitute | co-production with Orion Pictures |
| May 31, 1996 | The Arrival | co-production with Orion Pictures |
| August 2, 1996 | Phat Beach | co-production with Orion Pictures |
| September 17, 1996 | Deadly Outbreak | co-distributed by Nu Image Films |
| October 11, 1996 | Trees Lounge | co-production with Orion Pictures and Pioneer Entertainment |
| February 7, 1997 | Hotel de Love | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures and Pratt Films |
| March 7, 1997 | The Grotesque | |
| September 19, 1997 | Wishmaster | |
| October 31, 1997 | Critical Care | co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures, Mediaworks and ASAQ Film Partnership |
| November 18, 1997 | Joyride | co-production with Trillion Entertainment |
| December 19, 1997 | Open Your Eyes | co-production with Redbus Film Distribution |
| February 27, 1998 | Caught Up | co-production with Heller Highwater Productions |
| April 17, 1998 | Suicide Kings | co-production with Dinamo Entertainment |

### As Artisan Entertainment

| Release date | Title | Notes |
| June 24, 1998 | I Went Down | co-production with BBC Films, Bord Scannán na hÉireann, Irish Film Board, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Easkel Media, Treasure Entertainment and Shooting Gallery |
| July 10, 1998 | Pi | produced by Protozoa Pictures; distribution only; currently owned by A24 |
| September 16, 1998 | Permanent Midnight | co-production with JD Productions |
| October 1998 | Dark Harbor | co-productions with Killer Films |
| October 2, 1998 | Strangeland | produced by Shooting Gallery, Snider Than Thou Productions, Raucous Releasing and Behaviour Communications; distribution. |
| October 13, 1998 | Butter | co-production with HBO Films, CineTel Pictures, Buttler Films and World International Network |
| October 14, 1998 | The Cruise | produced by Charter Films; distribution. |
| November 4, 1998 | Belly | co-production with Big Dog Films |
| November 6, 1998 | Arrival II | co-production with Rootbeer Films and Taurus 7 Film Corporation |
| November 25, 1998 | Ringmaster | co-production with Motion Picture Corporation of America and The Kushner-Locke Company |
| January 1, 1999 | Hot Boyz | distribution only. |
| January 29, 1999 | The 24 Hour Woman | produced by Shooting Gallery; distribution. |
| February 26, 1999 | The Breaks | |
| April 9, 1999 | Foolish | co-production with No Limit Films |
| May 18, 1999 | Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai | Distribution only. |
| June 4, 1999 | Buena Vista Social Club | U.S. distribution only. |
| July 30, 1999 | The Blair Witch Project | produced by with Haxan Films; U.S. distribution. |
| August 25, 1999 | The Ninth Gate | U.S. distribution only, co-production with Le Studio Canal + |
| September 10, 1999 | Stir of Echoes | |
| October 8, 1999 | The Minus Man | produced by TSG Pictures, distribution only. |
| October 8, 1999 | The Limey | |
| November 5, 1999 | Grizzly Falls | co-production with Providence Entertainment |
| November 30, 1999 | Candyman 3: Day of the Dead | |
| July 14, 2000 | Chuck & Buck | U.S. distribution only. |
| August 11, 2000 | Cecil B. Demented | produced by Le Studio Canal+ and Polar Entertainment; U.S. distribution only. |
| August 15, 2000 | Premonition | |
| September 8, 2000 | The Way of the Gun | |
| September 12, 2000 | Bloody Murder | |
| October 13, 2000 | Dr. T & the Women | U.S. Distribution only. |
| October 27, 2000 | Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 | co-production with Haxan Films |
| October 27, 2000 | Requiem for a Dream | co-production with Thousand Words and Protozoa Pictures |
| December 1, 2000 | Panic | |
| January 21, 2001 | Nobody's Baby | co-production with Millennium Films, SE8 Group and Front Street Pictures |
| April 19, 2001 | The Center of the World | co-production with Redeemable Features |
| May 9, 2001 | 'R Xmas | |
| May 25, 2001 | Startup.com | produced by Artificial Eye and Noujaim Films; distribution only. |
| July 13, 2001 | Made | |
| August 17, 2001 | Double Bang | |
| September 7, 2001 | Soul Survivors | |
| September 8, 2001 | Novocaine | |
| October 23, 2001 | Deep in the Woods | |
| November 13, 2001 | Ticker | co-production with Nu Image Films, Filmwerks, Kings Road Entertainment and Emmett/Furla Films |
| December 14, 2001 | Vanilla Sky | produced by Paramount Pictures, Cruise/Wagner Productions, Vinyl Films, Sogecine, and Summit Entertainment; studio credit only |
| January 6, 2002 | Sins of the Father | co-production with Landscape Entertainment and FX |
| February 14, 2002 | Book of Love | co-production with Crossroads Pictures |
| April 5, 2002 | Van Wilder | produced by Myriad Pictures and Tapestry Films; U.S. distribution only. |
| July 2, 2002 | Chat Room | co-production with Megastar Pictures and Inverness Media |
| July 23, 2002 | Con Express | co-production with PM Entertainment; U.S. theatrical distributor |
| September 24, 2002 | The Pool | U.S. distribution only |
| October 4, 2002 | Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie | produced by Big Idea Productions and FHE Pictures; U.S. distribution only. |
| October 18, 2002 | Children on Their Birthdays | co-production with Crusader Entertainment, Frantic Redhead Productions, and Salem Productions; co-distributed by Koch Media and Moonstone Entertainment |
| October 25, 2002 | Roger Dodger | produced bv Holedigger Films; distribution only. |
| November 15, 2002 | Standing in the Shadows of Motown | |
| January 3, 2003 | Final Examination | produced by Franchise Pictures, Epsilon Motion Pictures, Hawaii Filmwerks and Royal Oaks Entertainment; distribution only. |
| February 18, 2003 | Bloody Murder 2: Closing Camp | |
| February 19, 2003 | Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony | |
| March 21, 2003 | Boat Trip | produced by Nordisk Film and Motion Picture Corporation of America; U.S. distribution only. |
| May 20, 2003 | The Shaft | distribution only |
| July 13, 2003 | Blue Hill Avenue | produced by Asiatic Pictures, Cahoots Productions and Den Pictures; distribution only. |
| July 22, 2003 | Guilty by Association | |
| August 5, 2003 | Step into Liquid | |
| August 19, 2003 | I've Been Waiting for You | |
| September 12, 2003 | Dummy | produced by Quadrant Entertainment and Dummy Productions LLC; distribution only. |
| October 10, 2003 | House of the Dead | U.S. distribution only. |
| December 16, 2003 | Devil's Pond | co-production with Davis Entertainment, Filmworks and Splendid Pictures |
| February 27, 2004 | Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights | picked up by Lions Gate Films, and produced with Miramax Films, A Band Apart, Lawrence Bender Productions and Havana Nights LLC |
| March 16, 2004 | Quicksand | co-production with First Look Pictures and Cinerenta |
| April 16, 2004 | The Punisher | picked up by Lions Gate Films, and produced with Marvel Entertainment and Valhalla Motion Pictures; Columbia Pictures handled international rights distribution |
| March 11, 2005 | Dot the i | co-production with Summit Entertainment, Alquima Cinema and Arcane Pictures |
| April 30, 2005 | Man-Thing | picked up by Lionsgate Films, and produced by Marvel Entertainment, Fierce Entertainment and Screenland Movieworld; the last film by Artisan |

### Television films

| Release date | Title | Network | Notes |
| August 25, 2002 | RFK | Fox | co-production with 20th Century Fox Television |
| March 9, 2003 | Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt | CBS | co-production with Fox Television Studios and The Kaufman Company |